Grout line protected pressure lines for setting sleeve packers

Abstract

An offshore deep water marine platform system having pressure feed lines extended from the platform deck to inflatable piling sleeve packers run inside grout supply lines.

We claim: 
     
       1. In an offshore marine structure of the type having a platform deck supported by one or more legs extending from the platform deck to the water body bottom, said legs having piling guide sleeves mounted thereon and adapted to receive piling driven therethrough into the bottom for anchoring the structure, said sleeves having inflatable packer assemblies mounted therein and adapted to be inflated to seal the annulus formed between each sleeve and its pile prior to the annulus being filled with grouting material, said platform deck having therein grouting material supply means and packer inflation pressure supply means, improved apparatus for connecting the grouting material supply means to a sleeve annulus and connecting the packer inflation supply means to the inflatable packer assembly associated with said sleeve including: rigid pipe means extending from the platform deck down to said sleeve; pressure conduit means inside said pipe means; first coupling means exiting said pipe means at said platform deck for coupling one end of said conduit means to said packer inflation supply means; second coupling means exiting said pipe means for coupling the other end of said conduit means to said associated packer assembly; first grouting supply coupling means for coupling said pipe means to said grouting material supply means; and grouting feed coupling means for coupling said pipe means to said annulus. 
     
     
       2. The improved apparatus of claim 1, with first sealing means in the vicinity of said first coupling means for sealing said pipe means. 
     
     
       3. The improved apparatus of claim 2, with second sealing means in the vicinity of said second coupling means for sealing said pipe means. 
     
     
       4. The improved apparatus of claim 3, further including enclosure means connected to said second sealing means for enclosing said second coupling means. 
     
     
       5. The improved apparatus of claim 3, wherein said second sealing means includes a plate having an opening therethrough; and said second coupling means includes a pipe nipple section positioned in said opening and welded to said plate. 
     
     
       6. The improved apparatus of claim 5, further including a split pipe section, of larger diameter than said pipe means, terminated by a split bull plug; said split pipe section being welded to said plate and said sleeve, said split bull plug being welded to said sleeve; and with said split pipe section and said split bull plug in cooperative relation with said sleeve for enclosing said second coupling means. 
     
     
       7. The improved apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pressure conduit means is flexible hose means. 
     
     
       8. The improved apparatus of claim 7, further including sleeve means covering said hose means in the vicinity of said first grouting supply coupling means. 
     
     
       9. The improved apparatus of claim 1, further including plug means inside said pipe means in the vicinity of said first coupling means; and with said plug means having opening means therethrough adapted to hold said pressure conduit means. 
     
     
       10. The improved apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sleeve has additional inflatable packer assemblies associated therewith and the apparatus includes additional coupling means, and additional sealing means associated with each of the additional packer assemblies. 
     
     
       11. In a pile and pile guide structure: a pile guide sleeve adapted to receive a pile driven therethrough with an annulus formed between the sleeve and its pile; inflatable packer assembly means mounted in said sleeve and adapted to be inflated to seal the annulus formed between each sleeve and its pile; rigid conduit grouting material supply means mounted to the exterior of said sleeve; connection means connecting said rigid conduit grouting material supply means to said annulus for the delivery of grouting material thereto; and pressure supply means connected for inflating said inflatable packer assembly means including a run of pressure line means enclosed within said rigid conduit grouting material supply means. 
     
     
       12. The pile and pile guide structure of claim 11, wherein said run of pressure line means enclosed within said rigid conduit grouting material supply means is a run of rigid piping.